Railway sewing machine



Filed oct. 25, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR ATTORNEY April 15, 1952 w. ROTHERHAM 2,593,196

RAILWAY SEWING MACHINE Filed Oct. 25, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Mama? 5 20mm ATTORNEY I April 1952 w. s. ROTHERHAM 2,593,196

RAILWAY SEWING MACHINE Filed Oct. 25, 1947 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 156 1 7. u I INVENTOR v I VALTEK 5' J'FOIHEJPHHH BY Maya w ATTO RN EY April 15, 1952 w. s. ROTHERHAM 2,593,196

RAILWAY SEWING MACHINE Filed Oct. 25, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l N v E NTO R MLTEJP ,5. Rail/HEM ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 15, 1952 RAILWAY SEWING MACHINE Walter S'. Rotherham, Lincoln Park, N. J., as-

signor to The Hermas Machine Company, Hawthorne, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey 7 Application October 25, 1947, Serial No. 782,176

8 Claims. (01. 112-2) This invention relates to an improved sewing machine of the so-called railway type, that is, one in which the goods remain stationary while the sewing machine travels across them.

The invention has among its objects the provision of an improved railway sewing machine which is characterized by its simplicity, rugged construction, and ease of operation.

The invention has, as a further object, the provision particularly in such machine of a simplified needle mounting head and drive therefor.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a simplified driving mechanism for the sewing machine head, and driving mechanism for the traveling carriage mounting such head,

such driving mechanisms including means autovision of an improved, yielding pressure-foot and an adjustable mounting for it on the sewing head.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a novel sewing machine table, and the combination of such table with the improved needle mounting head of the invention.

These and further objects of the invention will be more readily apparent in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the railway sewing machine of the invention.

Sewing machines of the type to which this invention particularly relates are employed among other operations, for the joining together of two lengths of cloth. Because such cloth pieces are wide and the cloth rolls are heavy, it is most convenient to perform such sewing operation with the cloth pieces stationary, the sewing head being traversed across the ends of the superimposed cloth pieces, The railway sewing machine of the present invention provides means for driving the sewing machine head supporting carriage and thesewing machine head while the head travels across the cloth in its operative direction, and

further incorporates a novel pressure-foot and mounting therefor by which such foot is yieldably pressed against the cloth being sewed and is quickly and easily raised when desired free of the cloth to inoperative position.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the description of the preferred embodiment of the machine,

Figure 1 is a view in plan of the railway sewing machine;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of such machine, the view being taken in a direction from right to left in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a View in vertical section through such machine, the section being taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 1; a

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in side elevation of the sewing head, the point of view being the same as in Figure 2, certain parts of the head and attendant mechanism being omitted;

Figure 5 is a view in vertical section through the sewing head, the section being taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a partial end view of the sewing head as viewed from the line 6-6 in Figure 5;

Figure '7 is a view in plan of the slotted needle receiving portion of the sewing machine table, the view being taken along the line in Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a view in section through the table shown in Figure 7, the section being taken along the line 8-8 in Figure 7; V

Figure 9 is an enlarged view in vertical section through the pressure foot structure, the section being taken along the line 99 in Figure 1;

Figure 10 is an enlarged view in section through the end of the pressure foot supporting stud, the section being taken along the line 3-40 in Figure 4 Figure 11 is an enlarged view in section through the. means adjustably connecting the pressure foot to its supporting shaft, the section being taken along the line I l-l I in Figure 4; and

Figure 12 is a schematic wiring diagram of the operating circuit for the machine.

The sewing machine needle bar of the invention has a fixed supporting structure generally designated 2. Such structure includes the parallel longitudinally extending channel members 4 positioned so that the top'surface 6 of the vertical flanges thereof form carriage supporting tracks. Members 4 are connected together by cross-members upon which they rest, one such cross-member being shown at 8 and another at ill, at the right and left hand ends, respectively, of the supporting structure.

The movable carriage generally designated I2 which moves along rails 6 has a main base plate M which forms the support for the driving motor,

hub of the gear.

transmission, and sewing machine head mounted on the carriage. Carriage supporting wheels I6 at the rear thereof and I8 at the front are supported at the corners of the base plate through the medium of stub shafts, such shafts being connected to the ears 20 welded on to the top surface of the base plate. The sewing machine head, generally designated 22, and the transmission generally designated 24 are both mounted on the base plate I4 as shown. Driving motor 26, by which the carriage is traversed and the sewin machine needle bar driven, is likewise mounted on the base plate. In the preferred embodiment shown the motor mounting takes the form of a pair of parallel upstanding ear members 28 welded to the upper surface of plate I4 near the rear edge thereof, a pair of parallel ears 30, affixed to the bottom of the motor and spaced inwardly of ears 28, and a shaft 32 projecting through ears 28 and 30. Such mounting allows the motor to pivot about shaft 32 and thus to maintain tension upon the belt by which it drives the transmission. The amount of such tension may be varied as desired by means of the motor adjusting screw 36 which at its bottom end is screwed into the member 34, which is a finger integral with base plate I4 and projecting from the rear edge thereof. Screw 36 has a nut 38 screwed on the upper end thereof. At its upper end the screw projects into a hole through the motor housing, the housing restin upon nut 38. Adjustment of such nut up or down determines the extent to which the motor may pivot downwardly about shaft 32.

The motor shaft is provided with a V drive pulley 40 over which runs the V belt 42 which is entrained over the driven V pulley 46 on the driven main transmission shaft 64. Shaft 44 is supported from base plate I4 by brackets 48 containing bearings within which the shaft rotates. Shaft 44 is provided with an over-running clutch 50 through which the driving sprocket 52 for the sewing machine needle bar is positively driven in clockwise direction (Figure 1). Clutch 50,

which may be of conventional design, allows the sprocket 52 and thus the sewing machine needle bar driven thereby to remain stationary when shaft 44 is driven in a counterclockwise direction (Figure 1). This allows the carriage to be traversed by power in a return direction, that is, toward the left in Figure 1, with the sewing machine needle bar inoperative.

Shaft 44 is provided with a worm 54 positively keyed thereto, such worm meshing with the worm gear 60 which is freely mounted on vertical shaft 58. Shaft 58 is rotatably supported in the vertical bearing member 56 affixed to base plate I4. A pinion 62 is affixed, as shown, at the bottom of shaft 58. Such pinion meshes with the stationary rack 64 which as shown in Figure 1 is secured to the fixed structure and is positioned between the track members 6 and xtends longitudinally thereof. Rotation of pinion 62 thus causes the carriage to travel lengthwise of the fixed structure in a direction determined by the direction of rotation of the pinion. The drive to the pinion from the worm gear 60 in the preferred embodiment is one which may both slip when a certain torque is exceeded and which may be selectively disconnected. Such driving means consists of the collar member 66 located above the bearing sleeve 61, collar 66 being aflixed to shaft 58, as shown, and gear 60 resting upon such collar. A clutch member 68 the top surface of which is serrated is afiixed to the upper surface of the An upper sleeve member I2 keyed to shaft 58, so that the two may be slid with respect to each other, is mounted at the top of the shaft, there being a spacing Washer I0 between the central zones of the lower end surface of the sleeve and the clutch member 68. The lower end surface of sleeve I2 is serrated in an outer annular zone so that when members I2 and 68 are in contact outside member I0 their serrations mesh. A collar I8 aflixed to the upper end of shaft 58 retains a compression coil spring 16 between it and the bottom of a counterbore in the upper end of the sleeve. When the sleeve is in the position shown in Figure 3, with the serrated surfaces of members 68 and I2 in contact, gear 60 drives shaft 58. When sleeve I2 is lifted against the action of spring I6 and such serrated surfaces are separated, gear 60 revolves freely upon shaft 50. Thus the carriage may be freely traversed by hand when the sleeve 12 is so lifted.

The driving of the sewing needle bar is effected from sprocket 52 by means of the chain which runs over it and the sprocket 82 on the main shaft 84 of the sewing head. The sewing head of the machine includes a housing 86 having a side closure plate 88 held thereon by screws, as shown in Figure 5. Shaft 84 is rotatably supported in the housing by means of the rear bearing carrying support 90 and the forward sleevelike extension 92, both integral with the housing. Shaft 84 carries thereon rearwardly thereof outside the housing a brake drum 94, the rear portion of which is provided with a circumferential V groove 96 and the forward portion of which is provided with a generally cylindrical portion I64. Within the housing, shaft 84 carries a worm 98 keyed thereto, and on its forward end, disposed outside extension 92, a looper I00. The sewing head shown in the preferred embodiment is of the chain stitch type, in which the thread is supplied solely from above the goods and is merely looped by the looper I00, which is of a well-known conventional design, when the needle I20 passes through the goods, through the slot in table I02, and upon rising leaves a loop of thread below the table. Within the housing is also supported a cross-shaft I04 supported in bearing supporting members I06 and I08 in the housing, as shown in Figure 4. Keyed on cross-shaft I04 is the worm gear H0 in mesh with the worm 98, rotation of the main shaft 84 thus driving the crossshaft at a somewhat slower speed. The crossshaft has keyed thereon an eccentric II2, about which is fitted the large end II6 of the pitman II 4.

The sewing machine needle I20 is carried in a needle holding bar I2I afiixed to the outer end of the needle carrying lever Ii-8, which is keyed to shaft I22, such shaft being journalled in the housing. The needle carrying lever thus pivots aboutthe axis of shaft I22. Laterally spaced from lever I I6 is a rearwardly projecting needle lever operating arm, I24, likewise keyed to shaft I22. Arm I24 is connected at its rear end by means of the laterally projecting pin I26 integral therewith to the upper, small end I 23 of pitinan II4. Thus rotation of shaft 84 causes the needle carrying lever to vibrate or oscillate by means of the driving mechanism above described.

Thread for the sewing machine head is in this instance carried on the carriage although it could,

5 thread then passes to the sewing head, which is provided with suitable thread guiding and tensioning devices through which it travels prior to its entry into the eye of the needle. Such guiding and tensioning devices are supported on top of the sewing head on the vertical boss I30 projecting from the top of the housing thereof.

Aflixed to such boss is the vertical stud I32 on which are placed in that order, a bottom steel washer I40, a cork washer I38, the lower portion I34 of a split V grooved tensioning wheel member, the top portion I36 of the V grooved tensioning wheel member, a cork washer I38, a steel washer I 40, the compression coil spring I42, and the tension adjusting nut I44 threadedly mounted on the upper end of the stud. A thread guide holder I 46 is mounted on the boss I30 below the tensioning device. Such holder has a horizontal portion to which are affixed a first upper thread guiding eye I48 and a rear thread guiding stud I52. The forward portion of the thread guide holder slopes downwardly as shown, and is provided with a second upper guide I46 and two lower guides, I58. The thread passing from the guiding means, of which the bottom portion is shown at I51, preferably first passes through the second, lower eye I48, thence through the upper eye I48, between the two halves'of the split V grooved tensioning member in a clockwise direction (Figure 1) and around such pulley for a turn and one-half, after which it passes around the stud I52, and then down through the four guiding eyes, that is, the eyes I48 and the eyes I50. The thread is then led through an eye I54 positioned on the top of the needle carrying head, after which it passes to the eye of the needle.

The sewing machine table I62 is provided, as'

shown in Figures 7 and 8, with an L shaped slot I56 through which the needle passes. The long arm of such slot is designated I58 and the short arm I60. Such two arms join at the inwardly protruding corner I62, which is immediately adjacent the path of travel of the needle as shown in Figure '1. Probab1y due to the fact that the needle I20 travels in an are rather than in a straight line, plus the tendency of the looper I to pull the thread inwardly toward the sewing head when forming a loop, the machine tends to saw in a curve rather than a straight line when a round hole is, "employed through the sewing machine table. The provision of the L shaped slot, related to the path of travel of the needle,

as shown, with the center line of the needle lyingtraverse to the right in Figures 1 and 2, is shown by the arrow in Figure 7.

The sewing head is provided with meanswhereby when the drive motor therefor is stopped,

whether manually intermediate the ends of its sewing traverse or automatically at the end thereof, the needle carrying lever and thus the needle bar carried thereby are automatically stopped in raised position with the needle free from the goods. Such braking means, which is shown most clearly in Figures and 6, consists of the brake drum 94 which, as mentioned, is keyed to shaft 84 and which has the V grooved portion 96 and the generally cylindrical portion I64. Portion I64 has over approximatelyone quarter of its extent a gradually deepening groove I66 which ends in the substantially radial shoulder I68, facing in a counterclockwise direction (Figure 6), which is the direction of rotation of shaft 84, as indicated.

The braking lever system which cooperates with I the portions 96 and I64 of the brake drum is designed gradually to bring shaft 84 to a stop without undue shock to the parts of the sewing head or to the braking system. The braking levers of such mechanism are supported from the housing 86 by means of the rearwardly projecting stud I10. On such stud, adjacent the housing there is pivotally mounted a generally upwardly directed bifurcated lever I12 upon which is mounted a stop lever having a front arm I16 and a rear arm I18. The stop lever, which is carried on lever I12 by pivot pin I80 projecting through ears I14 on lever I12, is a lever of the first-class type, since the fulcrum lies intermediate the front, force receiving, arm I16 and the rear, force transmitting, arm I18 thereof. The forward end I16 of the stop lever is held in contact with the surface of brake drum portion I64 by the tension spring I82 acting between such forward arm of the stop lever and the lever I12, as shown. Shoulder I68is so located on the brake drum that when it is in contact with the forward end of lever arm I16 the needle supporting head is in raised position.

Also mounted on stud I10, outwardly of lever I12, is a further, lower brake lever I84. Lever I84 carries on its inner face a brake segment I86 having a V shaped forward portion fitting within V groove 96 of the brake drum. A coil tension spring I88 is affixedto lever I84 and to the housing 86 as shown, so as to urge segment I86 of lever I84 outwardly from contact with the brake drum. Lever I84 is provided at its bottom with two spaced laterally projecting fingers I90 and I9I, in the space I93 between which is received the lower end of the brake lever applying arm I92 which projects from the bottom of lever I12. Arm I92 is of thin resilient construction and fits between fingers I90 and I9I closely but loosely enough to allow rocking between it and the fingers when arm I92 is bowed.

Within extension I96 of the housing is mounted a solenoid I94 of such construction that when the solenoid is energized its plunger I98 is drawn downwardly and when the solenoid is de-energized such plunger is free to travel upwardly. The solenoid plunger is connected to the rear end of arm I18 of the stop lever by means of the link 200. As will appear more clearly in Figure 12, subsequently to be discussed, the solenoid is connected in parallel with motor 26 when the motor is driven in aforward direction, that is, in such direction as to cause the carriage to travel to the right in Figures 1 and 2. Thus when the carriage is travelling in such direction, with the sewing head operating, stop lever'arm I16 is withdrawn from shoulder I68 and shaft 84 is free to rotate. Such withdrawal of lever I16 from shoulder I68 does not move lever I12 appreciably in a counterclockwise direction (Figure 6), and thus brake shoe I86 remains free from contact with groove 96 of the brake drum. When, however, the circuitto motor 26 is broken, the solenoid I94 is de-energized, lever arm I16 is urged into contact with the brake drumby spring I82,

7 and after a portion of a revolution shoulder I68 comes into contact with the forward end of the lever arm I16. Such contact thrusts the stop lever to the left and thus lever I12 counterclockwise (Figure 6). Thereupon arm I92 contacts finger I9I of lever I84, thrusting brake shoe I86 into the V groove 96. Such braking action, together with the yielding of both springs I82 and I88 and the bowing of arm I92 as it thrusts against finger I9I, cushions the stoppage of the sewing head mechanism.

Motor 26 is under the control of a reversing switch 282, shown in Figures 1 and 2. Such switch, which is of conventional design is provided with an operating shaft 284 to which are afiixed the manually operated handle 206 and the two depending switch operating arms 288 and 2I8 carrying rollers 2I2 and 2I3 respectively, on their lower ends. Arms 288 and 2I8 operate the switch automatically at the ends of the traverse of the carriage by means to be described.

The machine is provided with means for positioning the ends of the two pieces of cloth in superimposed position so that they may be sewed together upon the operating traverse of the sewing head. Such cloth holding means includes the cloth holder bar supports 2 I4 projecting vertically from the extensions 8 and I8 of the cross members of the fixed structure. Each such support is provided with an eye 2I6 at its upper end within which fits the end of the cloth holder bar 2I8. Two cloth holders 229 and 222 slidably mounted on'bar 2 I8 are provided. Cloth holder 228 is held on such bar by means of the laterally projecting arm 224 embracing the bar and is held thereon in the desired longitudinal position by means of the set screw 228. Cloth holder 222 is similarly held by arm 226 and set screw 238. Each of the cloth holders is provided with spaced parallel arms having sharp upwardly projecting prongs designed to pierce the goods to be sewed. In cloth holder 228 such arms are designated 232 and the prongs 234, whereas in holder'222 the arms are denoted 236 and the prongs 238'. The spacing between the arms of the cloth holders is such, as is apparent in Figure 1, that the pressure foot and the needlecarrying headma-y be received within them.

The cloth holders 228 and 222 are provided with depending portions which form the means'of attachment of the means 246 and 254, respectively, by which the switch operating arms 2 I 9 and 288, respectively, are operated. Cloth holder 228 is provided with a vertical member 249 and with another member 242 extending vertically and attached to the bar 2I8. Parts 248 and 242 are connected by the inwardly projecting slottedhorizontal member 244 to which switch operating member 246 is secured for longitudinal adjustment. Member 246 is provided with thesloping forward face 248. Roller 2I3 engages theface 248 when the switch is swung into forward position and the carriage reaches the front end of its forward traverse. Such engagement shifts the switch into the neutral position-shown in-Figure 2, stopping motor 26 and thus the carriage, and by means of the brake and stop mechanism previously described stops the sewing head'with'the needle bar in elevated position.

Cloth holder 222 is provided with a vertically extending portion 258 to which is secured'the inwardly projecting horizontal member 252. Switch actuating member 254 is adjustably secured to the last named member. Theforward inclined face 256 of theswitch actuatingmember'254 is contacted by roller 2I2 at the end of the reverse inoperative traverse of the carriage. Such contact throws the switch operating shaft into neutral position, stopping motor 26 and thus the carriage. The improved pressure foot of the invention is shown generally in Figures 1, 2, and 4, and as to details in Figures 9, 10, and 11. Support for such foot is provided by the stud 258 projecting laterally from the sewing head housing near'the top-thereof, and laterally spaced from the needle lever. Stud 258 carries the arm 268 which is retained thereon in a selected angular position by screw 262. As shown in Figure '10, the outer end of stud 258 is in the form of a truncated cone and the bore in arm 268 receiving the end of the stud is of a complementary shape. The lower end of arm 268 carries journalled within it, at a position spaced laterally of the needle, a shaft 264 which extends parallel to stud 258. The pressure foot has a slotted bottom portion 266 disposed, when in operative position, parallel to the table I02 and above it, and an upwardly inclined portion 268. Such latter portion has attached integrally therewith a collar 269, having a bore 265 therein to receive the outer end of shaft 264. The bore is so located as to extend at right angles to the length of part 268 and so that such part extends through the diameter of the bore. The collar is provided with a threaded bore receiving set screw 21I to retain it on shaft 264.

The end of shaft 264 rearwardly of arm 268 is provided with a crank arm 218 on which is mounted the pin 212 spaced from the axis of shaft 264. A coil tension spring 214 extends between the end of pin 212 inwardly of the sewing head and stud 258, being attached to the latter by passing therethrough and being fastened as shown at 213. The angular disposition -11 of crank arm 218 relative to shaft 264 and the angular position of collar 269 relative to the shaft are such that pin 212 is disposed below dead center (with respect to spring 214) when the pressure foot is in operative position, and that it lies above such dead center when the pressure foot is turned clockwise (Figure 2) to an inoperative position with portion 266 spaced well above the goods on the table. The extent of rotation of arm 218 is limited by engagement of the outer end 292 of pin 212 with either the upper ear 294 on arm 268 or the lower ear 296, spaced therefrom onsuch arm.

The pressure foot thus shown and described is stably but yieldingly held in both its operative and inoperative positions and may be readily thrown from one to the other. The foot may be readily adjusted to space portion 266 a desired distance above the table when the foot is in its operative position by adjusting arm 268 about stud 258, and then adjusting the angular position. of collar 269 with respect to shaft 264, to bring portion 266 parallel with the table.

The manner in which motor 26 and solenoid I94 are controlled by switch 282 will be apparent from a consideration of the schematic wiring diagram in Figure 12. Motor 26 in this instance is of the shunt field D. C. type supplied through the source of direct current L+, L-. Switch 282 is, in effect, of the double-pole, doublethrow type by which the main line contacts 216 and 218 may selectively be connected, respectively, to the reverse contacts 288 and 282 for the field 29 of the motor and to contacts 28I and 283 to the rotor 21, connected respectively, to the forward contacts 284 and 286 for such field,

and to contacts 285 and 281 to the rotor, or positioned in circuit opening position N. Two additional contacts 288'and 290 are arranged on the forward side of the switch so as to be connected to the current source when the switch is thrown to operate the motor in a forward direction, that is, in such direction as to drive the carriage in its forward operating traverse. Contacts 288 and 290 are connected to solenoid I94, and thus such solenoid'is energized only when the switch is in forward position.

Although I have described and illustrated preferred embodiments of the railway sewing machine and the various parts thereof of my invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto since it is capable of considerable variation as'to details.

I claim as new the following:

1. The combination with a sewing device having a driven shaft, a vibrating needle bar driven thereby, a sewing needle carried by the bar, a source of electric current, and an electric motor supplied thereby for driving the driven shaft of the sewing device, of a mechanism having a switch in the motor supply line, means selectively to close and open the switch thus to start and stop the motor, respectively, and a braking means responsive to opening of such switch to stop the sewing device with the needle carrying bar in raised position with the needle free from the goods being sewed, such braking means including a brake drum connected to the driven shaft of the device, the drum having a stop shoulder thereon, a stop member, means mounting the stop member for movement into contact with and away from the brake drum, resilient means constantly urging the stop member into contact with the brake drum, the stop member cooperating with the stop shoulder when such shoulder is opposite it and the stop member is in contact with the brake drum resiliently but positively to stop the driven shaft of the device in a predetermined angular position, a brake member, means mounting the brake member for movement into contact with and away from the brake drum, means constantly urging the brake member out of contact with the brake drum, means including a solenoid connected in parallel with the motor for moving the stop member away from the brake drum against the action of the means constantly urging the stop member into contact with the brake drum, when the solenoid is energized, and resilient means connecting the stop member and the brake member so that when the solenoid is de-energized the stop shoulder contacts the stop member, the stop member moves to absorb the shock, and upon such movement of the stop member such stop member moves the brake member by means of the recited resilient connecting means into operative contact with the brake drum against the action of the means constantly urging the brake member out of contact with the brake drum.

2. The combination with a sewing device having a head with supporting fixed structure, a driven shaft rotatably mounted in the head, a vibrating needle bar driven thereby, a sewing needle carried by the needle bar, a source of electric current, and an electric motor driven thereby for driving the driven shaft of the sewing device, of a mechanism having a circuit opening switch in the motor supply line, means selectively to close and open the switch thus to start and stop the motor, respectively, and a braking means responsive to opening of such 10 switchto stop the sewing device with the needle bar in raised position with the needle free from the goods being sewed, such'braking means including a brake drum connected to the driven shaft of the device, the drum having a stop shoulder thereon in a first portion thereof, a supporting means mounted on supporting fixed structure of the head, an upstanding stop mem-.

ber supporting element pivotally mounted on an axis parallel to the shaft on the supporting means, a stop lever of the first-class pivoted on the upstanding stop member supporting element at the upper end of the latter, a first arm of such stop lever having its outer end shaped to cooperate with the stop shoulder on the brake drum, a tension coil spring operatively connected between the first arm of the stop lever and the upstanding stop member supporting element whereby the first arm of the stop lever is constantly urged toward engagement with the brake drum, a depending braking arm pivotally mounted on the fixed supporting structure of the head, a brake drum engaging member mounted on the lower, outer, end of the braking arm, means resiliently connecting the stop member supporting element to the braking arm a coil tension spring operatively connected from the braking arm rearwardly to a fixed part of the supporting structure of the head of the sewing device, whereby constantly to urge the brake member away from the brake drum, a solenoid provided with a plunger, the plunger being connected to the outer end of the second arm of the stop lever, the solenoid being so constructed andarranged that when it is energized it pulls the plunger inwardly and thus depresses the second arm of the stop lever to raise the first arm of such lever from engagement with the brake drum, the solenoid being connected in parallel with the motor for moving the first arm of the stop lever away from the brake drum, the stop lever when released by the solenoid contacting the stop shoulder with the end of the first arm of such lever, such lever and the upstanding stop member supporting element being pivoted rearwardly to a limited extent, the resilient means connecting the stop lever supporting element and the braking arm momentarily pressing the brake member into operative, braking engagement, with the brake drum.

3. The combination with a sewing device having a head with supporting fixed structure, a driven shaft rotatably mounted in the head, a vibrating needle bar driven thereby, a sewing needle" carried by the needle bar, a source of electric current, and an electric motor driven thereby for driving the driven shaft of the sewing device, of a mechanism having a circuit opening switch in the motor supply line, means selectively to close and open the switchthus to start and stop the motor, respectively, and a braking means responsive to opening of such switch to stop the sewing device with the needle bar in raised position with the needle free from the goods being sewed, such braking mean including a brake drum connected to the driven shaft of the device, the drum having a stop shoulder thereon in a first portion thereof, a sup-'- porting means mounted on supporting fixed structure of the head, an upstanding stop member supporting element pivotally mounted on an axis parallel to the shaft on the supporting means, a stop lever of the first-class pivoted on the stop member supporting element at the upper end of the latter, a first arm of such stop lever havingits outer end shaped to cooperate with the stop shoulder on the brake drum, a tension coil spring operatively connected between the first arm of the stop lever and the stop member supporting element whereby the first arm of the stop lever is constantly urged toward engagement with the brake drum, a depending braking arm pivotally mounted on the fixed supporting structure of the 'head beside the upstanding supporting element, a brake drum engaging member mounted on the lower, outer, end of the braking arm, the'brake member being provided with parallel ears thereon projecting laterally toward the upstanding supporting element, the parallel ears being located approximately in a horizontal plane, a resilient arm depending from the upstanding stop member supporting element, the lower end of such resilient arm being received between the aforesaid parallel ears onthe brake member, a coil tension spring operatively connected from the braking arm rearwardly to a fixed part of the supporting structure of the head of the sewing device, whereby constantly to urge the brake member away from the brake drum, a solenoid provided with a plunger, the plunger being connected to theouter'end of thesecond arm of the stop lever, the solenoid being so constructed and arranged that when it is energized it pulls the plunger inwardly and thus depresses the second arm of the stop lever to raise the first arm of such lever from engagement with the brake drum, the solenoid being connected in parallel with the motortformovingthe first arm of the stop lever away'from the brake drum, the stop lever when released by the solenoid contacting the stop shoulder with the end of the first arm of such lever,-such lever and the upstanding stop member supporting element being pivoted rearwardly to a limited extent, the resilient member depending from the upstanding stop member supporting element thereupon momentarily pressing the'brake member into operative, braking engagement, with the brake drum.

4. The combination with a sewing device having a head with supporting fixed structure, a sewing needle carried by the needle bar, a source of-electric current, and an electric motor driven thereby for driving the driven shaft of the sewing device, of a mechanism having a reversing and circuit opening switch in the motor supply line, means selectively to close and open the switch thus to start in the desired direction and stop the motor, respectively, and a braking means responsive to opening of such switch to stop the sewing device with the needle bar in raised position with the needle free from the goods ,being "sewed, such braking means-including-:abrakc drum connected to the driven shaft of the device, the drum having a stop shoulder thereon in 1a first portion thereof, a supporting stud mounted on supporting fixed structure of the .head, such stud extending parallel to the driven "shaft of the sewing device, an upstanding stop member supporting element pivotally mountedr'on the-stud, such supportingelementbeingrbifurca'ted at its upper end, a stop lever of the first-class pivoted onthe bifurcated supporting element betweenthe ears of the bifurcated upper end 'of the latter, a first arm of such stop lever having its outer end shaped to cooperate with therstop shoulder on the brake drum, a tension coil :spring operatively connected between the first :arm of the stop lever and upstanding bifurcated supporting element whereby the first member, a coil tensionspring operatively connected fromthe braking arm rearwardly to a fixed part of :the "supporting structure of the head of the sewing-device, whereby constantly to urge the brake member away from the brake drum, a solenoid provided with a plunger, the plunger being connected to the outer end of the second arm of the stop lever, the solenoid being so constructed and arranged that when it is energized it pulls the plunger inwardly and thu depresses the second arm of the stop lever to raise the first arm of such lever from engagement with the brake drum, the solenoid being connected in parallel with the motor when the latter is running in forward, sewing, direction, for moving the first arm of the stop lever away from the brake drum, the stop lever when released by the solenoid contacting the stop shoulder with the end of the first arm of such lever, such lever and the upstanding bifurcated supporting member being then pivoted rearwardly to a limited extent, the resilient member depending from the upstanding bifurcated supporting element thereupon momentarily pressing the brake member into operative, braking, engagement with the brake drum.

5. The combination, with a railway sewing machine having a fixed supporting structure including a guideway, a carriage running on the fixed supporting structure and being guided by the guideway, a sewing device having a vibrating needle carrying bar mounted on the carriage. and common motive means for driving the sewing device and traversing the carriage, of a mechanism for selectively stopping the motive means, and means responsive to operation of such stop mechanism for stopping the sewing device with the needle carryin bar in raised position free from the goods being sewed.

6. The combination, with a railway sewing machine having a fixed supporting structure including a guideway, a carriage running on the fixed supporting structure and being guided by the guideway, a sewing device having a vibrating needle carrying bar mounted on the carriage, and common motive means for driving the sewing device and traversin the carriage, of a mechanism including a stop drum having a positive stop shoulder thereon afi'lxed to a driven shaft of the sewing device, a stop lever cooperating with the stop drum, means constantly urging the stop lever toward the stop drum, for engagement with the shoulder, and means responsive to operation of the motive means in a direction to drive the carriage in the operative sewing direction for withdrawing the stop lever from the stop drum.

7. The combination, with a railway sewing machine havin a fixed supporting structure including a guideway, a carriage running on the fixed supporting structure and being guided by the guideway, a sewing device having a vibrat- 13 ing needle carrying bar mounted on the carriage, and an electric motor for driving the sewing device and traversing the carriage, of a mechanism' including a stop drum having a stop shoulder thereon, the drum being keyed to a driven shaft of the sewing device, a stop lever mounted for cooperation with the shoulder on the stop drum, the lever and shoulder being so located that when they are in contact the needle carrying bar is raised, means constantly urging the stop lever into contact with the drum, andmeans comprising a solenoid for withdrawing the stop lever from the drum upon operation of the motor to drive the carriage in the operative sewing direction.

8. The combination with a railway sewing machine having a fixed supporting structure including a guideway, a carriage running on the fixed supporting structure and being guided by the guideway, a sewing device having a vibrating needle carrying bar mounted on the carriage, and an electric motor for driving the sewing device and traversing the,ca'rriage in a forward operative sewing traverse and a reverse direction with the sewing head inoperative, of a mechanism includin a stop drum having a stop shoulder thereon, the drum being keyed to a driven shaft of the sewing device, a stop lever mounted for cooperation with the shoulder on the stop drum, the lever and shoulder being so located that when they are in contact the needle carrying bar is raised, means constantly urging the stop lever into contact with the drum, and

means comprising a solenoid for withdrawing the stop lever from the drum upon operation of the motor to drive the carriage in its operative sewing traverse, a current supply circuit for the motor, a current supply circuit for the solenoid, a motor reversing switch located in the supply circuit for the motor, the solenoid supply circuit being so connected to such switch that it is energized when the switch connects the motor to drive the carriage in forward operating sewing direction and to deenergize it when such switch is either in open circuit or reverse position.

WALTER- S, ROTHERHAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 22,269 Tyler Dec. 7, 1858 137,618 ONeil Apr. 8, 1873 450,225 Dinsmore Apr. 14, 1891 1,248,236 Yates Nov. 27, 1917 1,392,696 Molyneux Oct. 4, 1921 1,418,682 Stedman June 6, 1922 v 1,880,164 Whitehouse Sept. 27, 1932 2,223,315 Diehl Nov. 26, 1940 2,283,691 Naftali et a1 May 19, 1942 2,318,442 Way etal May 4, 1943 2,337,413 Remington Dec. 21, 1943 2,350,267 Zonis May 30, 1944 

